Kate Middleton calls NHS to thank them personally
Given that coronavirus lockdown rules are currently in place, requiring everybody who can stay home, to do so, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have had to come up with other ways to connect with NHS staff. Typically, the royals make in-person visits to hospitals (many of the family are patrons at various sites), to shake hands with healthcare professionals, learn more about their work and to thank them for their service.
Now, instead of dropping in, Kate and William have been personally calling doctors and nurses to thank them for all that they're doing throughout this pandemic. The staff they chatted to were spread across two hospitals – Queen's Hospital Burton, Staffordshire and the University Hospital Monklands, Lanarkshire. Very sadly, the former of which recently lost a member of staff, Mr Amged El-Hawrani, an ENT consultant, to coronavirus.
One of Mr El-Hawrani's colleagues, Adrian Thompson, said of the call, "We are all aware of the seriousness of Covid but when it takes the life of one of our own it hits us a bit harder. Their royal highnesses were very empathetic in offering their condolences and they were really sorry to hear we had lost a colleague."
Gavin Boyle, Chief Executive at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton, who lead the call, said it was a real moral boost for staff after "a tough month for the NHS".
"It has been a tough month for the NHS, especially at our hospitals, so to receive a call from The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge was really appreciated," he said afterwards. "The Duke and Duchess heard about the challenges our staff were facing professionally, and also the impact on their home lives. We are all very grateful for their support and for taking the time to speak to colleagues on the front line. This was a real boost for morale."
The palace tweeted a short clip of the call, during which the Duke and Duchess also praised staff for how "amazingly" they were coping "under extreme circumstances".
☎️ “The whole country is proud of you, so thank you for everything you’re doing and all the hours you are putting in.” — The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to staff at Queen’s Hospital Burton and University Hospital Monklands.#clapforkeyworkers @UHDBTrust @UHMonklands pic.twitter.com/B8RjNZVZto
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 2, 2020
"I know all of you see this as your job and that you get on with it, but this is a different level and you are doing an incredible job," William told them. "The whole country is proud of you so thank you for everything you're doing and all the hours you are putting in."
Hear, hear.
Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.
Follow Jennifer on Instagram and Twitter
You Might Also Like
